Hi all,
it’s been a while. We’ve been in the studio working on some new things. Nothing is finished, but we have a few pictures and a few tracks played live in the studio.
We recorded at Big Fish. I can’t quite remember where it is…somewhere up the 5N near Encinitas, but DEEP in the hills. Awesome place. We worked with terrific engineer Ben Moore and the tremendous producer Bart Mendoza.
Best,
-Z

A video from our recording session. This is the first of three. If you like it, please go to youTube and leave a comment/rating. Thanks!

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Songs and Alternate Versions

With You - Electronic Version

This is really such a simple song; only three chords (F - G - Am). I play this one acoustic lots and have had more than one person tell me it was a favorite. This is how the song first started; I wrote it with the loops and repeating guitar pattern. I've always thought I could sound more like David Gray in the way he uses bits of electronica, but I have never felt that, in the end, the songs I write should be done like that. It's something that I battle with all the time. Having said that, I really love this version. The lyrics on the CD version are much different, thanks to hours of rewriting and a huge boost from Hamish Wyatt. Hamish lives in Brisbane, Australia. He and I traded this one back and forth one afternoon. He gave me the "wine, sweet with reasons" line and just blew me away. Thanks, Hamish!-z

Phil's Magic Carpet Ride (I Miss You)

This one is fun for me to play live, if somewhat difficult to sing. I'll play this one or Forever Again as an opener usually, just because they both move along so well. I worked and worked on this song, trying to make it fit on the record; in the end, it was just too different and I couldn't find it in me to get it to sit like the others. For this reason, I left it off the record. This is an unmastered version. I hope you like it. Thanks for listening!-z

For Ever Again

I have played this song all over the world for lots of people. It's quite a bit different from my usual songwriting style and that seems to be great for some and a bit off for others :) I remember playing this one in a guy's house in Poland to a few new friends and a couple bottles of fine Polish Vodka. I finished it and everyone asked me to play it again and they all sang along. Such a priceless night. I wrote the whole song in less than 15 minutes on the sofa in my living room a few years back. It's quite an obvious song, but one I really enjoy playing. I couldn't make it fit on the album, although I tried and actually recorded it for the record. I nearly always bring this one out for live shows.-z

Dirty Motel Room Fire

an in-between stage. This was just an idea I had been kicking around for a while that made its way into a song. I didn't even play that acoustic part...it was a LOOP! I think I played most of the piano, but some of it was looped as well...and the lap steel...all looped. People line up to give me a hard time about the phaser effect on the vocals, but I still like it that way. Enjoy this one from the vault!-z

Like Flowers for the Sun

the 1994 song Like Flowers for the Sun. I had written a poem about an experience in San Felipe, Mexico and that was the impetus for the beginning. This song became the title track for our 1994 Polygram/Polydor release. It's like another lifetime ago. I have always liked this song, with its unique drums and the laid back feel. I played this song for a couple new friends I made on a small island off the coast of Thailand. Their response was so positive, it shocked me and was enough to motivate me to re-record it. I hope you enjoy this one from the vault. Recorded with producer/mixer Mack (Queen, Zeppelin, Stones) in LA. -z

On and On

with Jesse. The two of us had recorded this one a few times together. This is the latest, if you can call it that. This version has been around for many years, but is still one of my favorites. Lots of big harmonies there, drawing, as always, from my huge roots in CSN.-z